HEATING SYSTEM NOISES in BUILDINGS - CONTENTS: Building heating system noises, a concise catalog of sources of building heating system noises: lists of causes, cures, and detection methods for heating system noise complaints

Heating System Noises & Building Temperature-Change Noises

VIBRATION DAMPENERS a discussion of devices used to isolate noises produced by HVAC air handlers such as air conditioners and furnaces.

A quick guide to heating system noise troubleshooting is given just below.

Heating systems and building heat as a source of indoor noises and sounds include air bubbling in piping, shrieks (bearings), bangs (puffbacks), rumbling (air noise, mechanical noise), grinding noises, and other mechanical noises.

Steam heat can also produce (normal) hissing sounds as air escapes from steam radiator valves. If your steam pipes are making a horrible hammering or banging noise,
see BANGING HEATING PIPES RADIATORS.

All heating systems can cause creaking or popping noises as heating system and piping or ductwork expand (and contract) through the heating cycle, though meticulous installation or repair can usually stop those sounds.

Blower fans and air handlers: can induce vibration into building HVAC ductwork if a vibration isolator or vibration dampener is not installed.
See VIBRATION DAMPENERS for a discussion of devices used to isolate noises produced by HVAC air handlers such as air conditioners and furnaces.

Circulator pumps on hot water hydronic heating systems range from quiet to producing a mechanical whine or hum, or if failing bearings, grinding, or if failing electric motor, humming and vibrating. In our experience Taco-brand circulator pumps are usually so quiet that we can tell that the circulator pump is running only by feeling for a temperature change the pipes entering and leaving the pump. -
see CIRCULATOR PUMPS & RELAYS

But if a circulator pump and hydronic heat piping contain unwanted air, cavitation in the pump itself due to the presence of air can make a pump abnormally noisy as well as making a bubbling or gurgling sound in the building hot water heating pipes, baseboards, or radiators.

See AIR BLEEDER VALVES for a catalog of air purging procedures for hot water heating systems.

See AIR SCOOPS SEPARATORS PURGERS for an explanation of the equipment intended to get rid of un-wanted and noisy air in hot water heating systems.

Duct system noises include hissing from air movement and rattling or vibration from loose duct components, particularly where metal ductwork is installed. We have also traced "duct noises" to wind noises and to animals in the ductwork: birds, mice, raccoons, even a cat.

Also see VIBRATION DAMPENERS for a discussion of devices used to isolate noises produced by HVAC air handlers such as air conditioners and furnaces.

Oil burner noises: could be normal motor noise or could be a sign of serious and even dangerous heating system conditions. Noises at the oil burner may be due to the electric motor, to motor couplings that drive other mechanical parts, or due to oil burner combustion problems.

Radiator Noises: Watch out: If the radiator continually makes noises (whistling or wheezing) at the steam vent, there is a problem that needs to be fixed: a bad steam vent, steam piping problem, steam pressure set too high, or boiler oversized for the heating distribution system. See our diagnostic articles at RADIATORS.

Steam radiator vent hissing or other noises: steam vents should quiet down after steam has entered the radiator and the radiator and its vent have become hot. See STEAM VENT NOISE. Also see HISSING NOISES in BUILDINGS

Vibration dampeners are needed to isolate vibration that occurs in air handlers or blower compartments from building duct work. See VIBRATION DAMPENERS for a discussion of devices used to isolate noises produced by HVAC air handlers such as air conditioners and furnaces.

Heating flues, chimneys: Noises associated with heating system exhaust, including

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"From the Society's inception, its members have been involved in the development of acoustical standards concerned with terminology, measurement procedures, and criteria for determining the effects of noise and vibration. In 1932, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), then called the American Standards Association, appointed the Acoustical Society as sponsor of a committee, designated as Z-24, to standardize acoustical terminology and measurements. The work of this committee expanded to such an extent that it was replaced in 1957 by three committees, S1 on Acoustics, S2 on Mechanical Shock and Vibration, and S3 on Bioacoustics, with a fourth, S12 on Noise, added in 1981. These four committees are each responsible for producing, developing a consensus for, and adopting standards in accordance with procedures approved by ANSI. Although these committees are independent of the Acoustical Society, the Society provide
s the financial support and an administrative Secretariat to facilitate their work. After a standard is adopted by one of these committees and approved by ANSI, the Secretariat arranges for its publication by ASA through the American Institute of Physics. The ASA also distributes ISO and IEC standards. Abstracts of standards and ordering information can be found online on the ASA Standards Page. More than 100 acoustical standards have been published in this way; a catalog is also available from the Standards Secretariat (631-390-0215; Fax: 631-390-0217). The Society also provides administrative support for several international standards committees and acts as the administrative Secretariat (on behalf of ANSI) for the International Technical Committee on Vibration and Shock (TC-108)." - http://asa.aip.org/history.html

Thanks to audiologist Cheryl P. Harllee, licensed hearing specialist, for discussing noises and noise problems in preparation for this article. Ms. Harllee can be located at the Village Hearing Center, 249 U.S. Highway One, Tequesta FL 33469 561-744-0231

Barrier Ultra-R super high-R building panels, produced by Glacier Bay, use Aerogel and are rated up to R-30 per inch, or in Barrier Ultra-r™ panels, R-50 per inch. The company also produces acoustic panels that are Ultra-db resistant and lightweight. Unlike the appliance insulation panels discussed in the original Q&A above on miracle insulation, these Areogel based panels will continue to retain some, though reduced insulating value if punctured, performing at perhaps R-9 per inch. The product is used in marine refrigerators, but in the future may be available as a residential construction product. The company is researching specialized products in medical, transportation, and aerospace applications. Contact: Glacier Bay, Inc., 2930 Faber Street, Union City, CA 94587 U.S.A., (510) 437-9100, Sales and Technical Information - sales@glacierbay.com

Racket, din, clamor, noise. Whatever you want to call it, unwanted sound is America's most widespread nuisance. But noise is more than just a nuisance. It constitutes a real and present danger to people's health. Day and night, at home, at work, and at play, noise can produce serious physical and psychological stress. No one is immune to this stress. Though we seem to adjust to noise by ignoring it, the ear, in fact, never closes and the body still responds - sometimes with extreme tension, as to a strange sound in the night.

The annoyance we feel when faced with noise is the most common outward symptom of the stress building up inside us. Indeed, because irritability is so apparent, legislators have made public annoyance the basis of many noise abatement programs. The more subtle and more serious health hazards associated with stress caused by noise traditionally have been given much less attention. Nonetheless, when we are annoyed or made irritable by noise, we should consider these symptoms fair warning that other things may be happening to us, some of which may be damaging to our health.

Protective Noise Levels - 1979, basis for many local noise ordinances and codes - http://www.nonoise.org/library/levels/levels.htmThis publication is intended to complement the EPA's "Levels Document,"* the 1974 report examining levels of environmental noise necessary to protect public health and welfare. It interprets the contents of the Levels Document in less technical terms for people who wish to better understand the concepts presented there, and how the protective levels were identified. In that sense, this publication may serve as an introduction, or a supplement, to the Levels Document.

"The Book Nook" - how to build a quite room, Rodale's Practical
Homeowner, October, 1987, p. 50-61. This issue, p. 98-99, has a good list of
manufacturers/distributors of a range of noise control products such as
acoustical sealants, ceiling systems, resilient channels, wall panels, window
coverings, etc.

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Wikipedia provided background information about some topics discussed at this website provided this citation is also found in the same article along with a " retrieved on" date. NOTE: because Wikipedia entries are fluid and can be amended in real time, we cite the retrieval date of Wikipedia citations and we do not assert that the information found there is necessarily authoritative.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

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